Wednesday, May 28, 2014

It has been a
long time since I have publically aired my problems. I keep my personal and
business problems to myself. I am above petty arguments and name calling—most of
the time. This is not one of those times. I dislike high school games, prejudices
and holier than thou attitudes. Nothing grates on my nerves more.

But, recent
events have changed my own steadfast beliefs. As they do most of the time, the
actual decision was taken from my hands.

A simple
question was brought to my attention while I was at work on Friday. That S
Squared Productions Graphic Art had taken a cover I had done for a client/very
good friend, and had “merged it together with another cover” for a banner. Now,
I couldn’t view this said piece of work, because JavaScript wasn’t working on
my phone, and no pictures or videos showed up on Facebook. In a fatal error, I interpreted
this as someone had taken my cover, or pieces thereof and made a design of
their own from two pieces of art that didn’t belong to them, without any
permissions. This isn’t the first time this had happened to me, and I merely regurgitated
the legalities I have had to say a thousand times, a thousand different ways.

Now, another
good friend, knowing my current schedule and lack of time offered to handle
this for me. I agreed, because I was at work and busy. I wasn’t thinking about
the repercussions of my agreement, and that is on ME. A letter was written to S
Squared on my behalf.

When I got home
from work, I was able to look at the art, and immediately saw they had not
infringed on my derivative copyright. I immediately messaged all the involved
parties who had brought this problem to me (three, to be exact) that S Squared
had not done anything wrong. I thought that would end it. But I was wrong.

Words were
exchanged….and well, you know the drill.

S Squared came
to me personally to apologize, to where I, myself and me, told them they hadn’t
done anything wrong. I APOLOGIZED TO THEM. That should have been the absolute
end of it. Because, let’s face it, any work I do, no matter for who it is, is
MY work. I made it. End of discussion.

S Squared is
being humiliated, apparently in my name, in public. Not only that, the original
problem has been trampled underneath a bunch of other issues that have nothing
to do with what was or wasn’t done to a cover. I couldn’t bear to read all that
had been said. Or the comments of the self righteous. Or the defense of my
friend, who had never EVER done anything, but brought me a simple question. An
inquiry.

I didn’t find
out about anything past me saying “they did nothing wrong…” until a few hours
ago. S Squared approached me again today, and told me about the public airing of
MY business. I was enraged. I had to put my phone down and walk away.

There is so many
miscommunications in this horrendous mess, I can’t even begin to pick the
sticky web apart. My friend is being demeaned by “working professionals” with
less respect than that S Squared was treated to. I am being told I am childish
for being angry. I am now the villain.

I have had
enough. I don’t have time for other’s pettiness. I don’t have the inclination
to put up with abuse from people who take my name and reputation to destroy others.
We are adults. And we better damned well act like it.

This occurrence
ended one “acquaintance” today. I have washed my hands of this person. I will
not be associated with the very reason indy-publishing has a dark underbelly.
There will be repercussions for this post. I know this, the moment they read
it. Let their needless drama windstorm blow my way, rather than toward a woman
with a budding love of art, as I do, and is just trying to find a way to do
that.

Kayden McLeod is a paranormal and fantasy author, who dreams big, and writes bigger. She gets her inspirations from all manners of life and events that surround her. She is best known for her paranormal books, the Coven Series. Now, she embarks on new adventures in the dark world of Shadowdyn, found in the pages of the Demon Queen Series. As well, she has started to write her first YA fantasy books under the name Kinsey Knight.

She is an award winning Cover and Graphic Artist, and the co-owner of Otherworlds Publicity. In the past, she's completed cover art for a variety of publishers, although her freelance makes up most of her portfolio.

She co-owns Siren Book Reviews, an inspiration Brigit Aine and herself dreamed up. A site devoted to reviewing qualityfiction, and creating a home dedicated to their reviewers.